If you are a frequent traveler, you probably know that one must air down tires before hitting the trail and refill them again to street pressure, before getting to the highway. This becomes a problem for many a traveler.
The most feasible solution would be to carry an air tank or air compressor with you, on the trail. This can be done in many ways, like carrying a pre-filled air tank with enough capacity to fill all four tires; but it gives a limited air supply. Or you could carry a cheap lighter jack powered compressor, which gives unlimited air but is very slow (about 1 psi per minute). One can even use the small compressor that powers ARB lockers to fill your tires and is better than the above option; but it is still quite slow, noisy, puts out only about 90 psi, and costs 0.
Compressed carbon dioxide tanks also form another good option, since they last for quite some time on a single charge and are completely portable. The only drawback is that when they eventually run out, they can be refilled at a gas supply shop only.
An electric air compressor is a good option. Major players in the electric compressor market are Curry and Ready-Air and these are setup to fill auxiliary air tanks mounted on the vehicle. The Quick Air 2 boasts 2.2 cams at 105 phis and costs about 0. These can be converted to pump air instead of Freon. These compressors can be purchased at cheap prices (-40) from junkyards. They are very powerful, since they run on your car's engine.
Some people also use the OEM air compressor for their vehicles. Most people use the York-style compressors used by AMC, Ford, Volvo, Porsche, IH, and Oldsmobile in the '70s and early '80s. The advantage that the York-style compressor enjoys over the other types is that it has a separate, internal oil reservoir. Also, on board compressors not only enhance ease in adjusting tire air, but they also have unlimited supply and can be operated right from the dashboard.
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